Europe Declines, HP Awarded and Xerox Shines

Europe Declines and HP Awarded

The European hardcopy printer market declined 6.1% for the 1st quarter 2019 according to market research group International Data Corp (IDC), with a 1st half market size of 8.54 million units. Laser printers experienced growth for A4 color as well as A3 and A4 monochrome multifunctions. A4 monochrome printers decreased although they were still the largest share of the laser shipments. Inkjet shipments increased for business units but declined for home use.

The Printing Industries of America has awarded Hewlett Packard one of their 2019 InterTech Technology Awards for their A30 and CV150 aqueous inks used in the T1100 and C500 PageWide presses. These inks are environmentally designed with more than 65% water and especially suited for corrugated packaging where competitive UV inks might have components that could migrate into food content.

New Xerox Family of A4 Devices

On June 4 Xerox and HP announced it will expand their relationship whereby Xerox will source new printers from HP. This has resulted in a new Xerox family of A4 monochrome multifunction devices just being introduced in Europe and Africa with expected US to release later this year. The printers will reportedly be based on Samsung technology that resulted from the HP 2017 acquisition of Samsung’s printer business.

What Else is News?

Electrostatic drop-on-demand inkjet printer company Tonerjet has now opened its Hertfordshire, UK facility. Tonerjet is a technology first patented in 1993 using research from the Research Laboratories of Australia. Ink patents relate to pigments dispersed in an insulating liquid (similar to liquid toner). An electrostatic charge is placed on the ink which both concentrates and controls the ejection of the pigment ink particles. The new Cyclone printer will be produced at this facility and ink produced at the nearby Melbourn Science Park.

Static Control and its parent Ninestar have reportedly acquired a minority interest in Malaysian toner producer Jadi and also established a three-year supply agreement that includes a commitment for a certain quantity of Jadi’s chemical toner.

Hewlett-Packard has received UL ECOLOGO Certification for its PageWide aqueous-based inks for corrugated packaging, the first such company to receive that certification for corrugated packaging.

Wirthconsulting.org reports Hewlett-Packard is being sued by Slingshot Printing for infringing sixteen older Lexmark inkjet-related patents that were transferred to Funai Electric when Lexmark sold their inkjet business in 2013. Slingshot subsequently acquired the Lexmark patents apparently not for use themselves but to form the basis of this lawsuit. Technology experts question the value of these patents as HP was developing similar inkjet technology prior to these patents.

Hewlett-Packard has opened a new 50,000 sqm 3D Printing and Digital Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Barcelona, Spain that will bring together engineers, technology collaborators and customers to support new plastic and metal 3D developments.

Canon has updated the i-SENSYS printers with new monochrome printers (LBP325x; LBP220 series) and monochrome multifunctions (MF440 series; MF540 series) plus new color devices (LBP 620 series; LBP660 Series; MF640 Series, MF740 Series).

Epson has updated its “Supertank” line of inkjet printers with six new EcoTank standard and multifunction models. Printer prices range from $249.99 to $499.99. The ink tanks provide up to 2 years ink at typical usage with a claimed 90% savings in ink costs.

Epson has also introduced an updated SureColor dye-sublimation printer with the new SC-F6300 unit that offers improved productivity and easier maintenance. The unit can provide up to 63 m2/hr at 720 dpi. Inks are UltraChrome DS

Lexmark has added six new units to its GO line series, including a monochrome MFP (MB2236adwe), two-colour single-function printers (C322dw and C3326dw), and three color multifunctions (MC3224dwe, MC3224adwe, and MC3326adwe). Print speeds for the new units range from 36 ppm for monochrome to 24 or 26 ppm for color. The new units are up to 30% smaller and lighter than previous similar speed units. Toner is provided in a one-piece cartridge.

Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America has introduced 11 new models in their Advanced, Essentials and Series Workgroup printing devices. Models range from 26 to 60 ppm in color and monochrome versions.

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